North East Good Cause Named As Official Charity Partner Of British Masters

THE GRAHAM Wylie Foundation has been appointed as the Official Charity Partner of the 2017 British Masters supported by Sky Sports, which will take place at Close House from Thursday September 28-Sunday October 1.

Tournament host Lee Westwood has also become a Patron of the Foundation – joining AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson – with the former World Number One eager to throw his support behind the Foundation and founder Graham Wylie, one of the North East’s best-known entrepreneurs and philanthropists.

Various fundraising efforts will be implemented in the lead up to the event with a number of initiatives taking place during the tournament week, including the Hero Pro-Am on Wednesday 27 September, with ticketing revenue from the day donated to the Foundation.

Golf fans can now book their tickets to see celebrities and professional golfers in action at the Hero Pro-Am from £15 here, with general sale tickets and hospitality packages also available online.

Image courtesy of Getty Images.

“I’m immensely proud,” said Wylie, speaking of his charity’s involvement with the British Masters supported by Sky Sports. “It’s great for the golf club – we love our sport in Newcastle – so to have a big event like the British Masters here is brilliant for the region and I can’t wait to see some of the best golfers in the world at Close House.

“Lee has been the Tour professional for Close House for many years. We have a great friendship going – we enjoy the golf together and racing together – so the fact that we have the golf coming here for the British Masters, we thought it would be appropriate to ask Lee to be a Patron of the Foundation and to assist us in raising money to help educate and inspire children in the North East.

“The defining moment was when my daughter had to have heart surgery seven years ago and that’s when I decided to start to have a look at my own charity. I have been very lucky myself in business and in life, and I wanted to give something back.

“One of the projects we are going to do is build a music therapy room in Newcastle. I’m going to donate the building and we will raise money for the refurbishment and to fit out, and then it will be used for disadvantaged or disabled children to get a better quality of life through music.”

Westwood, who has been Close House’s Touring Professional since 2011, won the British Masters in the tournament’s first spell on the European Tour, claiming the title at The Belfry in 2007, and is excited to become a Patron of the Graham Wylie Foundation ahead of the tournament in September.

“I am extremely honoured to be asked to become a Patron of the charitable Foundation,” said the ten-time Ryder Cup player. “Graham is well known for his charitable work in the North East and I’m keen to help the Foundation flourish both with the help of the British Masters and well into the future.

“He gets a lot of people involved from all different walks of life and we all try and lend a hand, so I didn’t hesitate when Graham asked me to be a Patron for such a worthy cause.

“The charity is there to help and inspire children and to give people a more optimistic and better future. I’m sure a lot of people will come along. We have a lot of celebrities for the Pro-Am and have had to turn away a lot that have called up asking to play because there just aren’t enough spots. It’s going to be a great day to watch the golf and hopefully an even better day for the Graham Wylie Foundation if we can raise some big funds.”

Hospitality packages for The Colt Pavilion are also available for the British Masters supported by Sky Sports. Prices for The Colt Pavilion, which will overlook the 18th hole at Close House, start at £275 + VAT.

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